The Reeths-Puffer volleyball team, comprised of mostly underclassmen, is seeing some measurable progress against quality opponents, even in losses.
The Rockets lost 3-0 to powerful Mona Shores on Tuesday in the second round of the O-K Green conference tournament.
R-P improved throughout the match, losing the first set 25-8, but narrowing the scores to 25-18 in the second set and 25-21 in the third.
R-P's Megan Barmes
Reeths-Puffer Coach Justin Birr noted that when the Rockets played the Sailors earlier in the season, they only scored four points in one set, never cracked the 20-point mark in three sets, and only had 10 kills in the match.
Birr was happy to note real progress on Tuesday night.
“With two seniors on the team, nine juniors and two sophomores, we have focused a lot of this season on growth,” he said. “Tonight we were more intense for two of the three sets. We played a much more competitive match in every aspect of our game. We had 20 kills, we passed better, and we played great defense.
R-P's Kiera Ketner
“In early September, the game was hard to watch. Tonight I was so proud of the fight our girls showed on the court and on the bench. We brought great energy, and we are focusing more on how to win points instead of playing not to lose.”
Mady Snyder led the Rocket attack with 11 kills and two aces. Grace Darke had 18 assists.
Defensively, Megan Barmes had 13 digs and Kiera Ketner added six.
